Oct 11 2013

Left (Still Standing, # 1) Blog Tour

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 3 Comments

Synopsis

Your own two feet are all you have when you’ve been left.
A naive Baylee loves Colt, her boyfriend of four years, more than she ever thought possible. After a little snooping, she’s convinced she’s well on her way toward hearing an once-in-a-lifetime proposal and starring in the wedding-of-the-year event. Instead, she’s blindsided by a very public breakup and the crushing news that Colt is marrying someone else… someone more befitting him and the role his father expects him to take in his law firm.
Baylee may have spent years resenting Ariana, her mother, and her suicide, an intolerable show of weakness in Baylee’s opinion, but after Colt leaves her just short of the altar, Baylee sees the world through her mother’s eyes. She sympathizes with Ariana’s actions and realizes that some things—soul-deep aches—can irreparably damage you and make moving on nearly impossible.
At least that’s how she feels until she meets Ryker. With his help, Baylee discovers there is life after Colt, and she prepares to move on by pulling herself up by the bootstraps, holding her head high, and standing on her own two feet. Unfortunately, a new jealous and hateful Colt has his own plans for her, and they are plans no one—especially Baylee—ever saw coming.

My Review

The prologue begins with some pretty heavy issues. I was immediately hooked. The story drew me in and by the end I was biting my nails to know what happens next. Heavy as it gets it is a great read with real issues that people will either relate to or empathetic towards the situations that are presented.

Baylee’s had a tough life, her mom committed suicide when she was only ten but she’s moved on. She’s found love and is dedicated to keeping her man happy, even if it means sacrificing her own wants and desires to please him. She ignores the telltale signs that trouble is brewing and has no clue she’s about to be in for one hell of a ride.

How far would you go to be with the one you love? Would you sacrifice your own happiness? Baylee loves her boyfriend Colt. She’s uprooted her entire life to be by his side. She’s even accepted a job she hates to appease his controlling father. Although she’s made many sacrifices, it isn’t enough and although Colt appears torn, he’s a coward. He cares more about pleasing his father than being with the woman he claims to love. Baylee arrives to dinner believing Colt is about to propose instead he chooses a very public setting to inform her that he’s leaving her. To top it all off, he makes it clear he’ll be marrying another woman, one within his affluent circle. Colt’s behavior and treatment is so shocking Baylee becomes infuriated and flips out commanding the attention of the entire restaurant. When a handsome stranger comes to her aide, Baylee must enlist his help to get away from Colt, but she has no idea her world will forever change.

Rucker…oh Rucker I love him…he is the handsome stranger that intervenes. Their romance is a whirlwind and though it progresses quickly they seem genuinely perfect for one another. The issues they face however will be what makes or breaks these two. This book is intense, sexy and utterly terryfying at times. I kind of have mixed feelings about this book. Hear me out though. On one hand, I loved it, but on the other hand, this book ends with a bang. I was left an emotional wreck and had a total WTF moment!!!! T. R. Graves is a cruel, cruel woman for leaving me hanging like that lol. The content in the book can get heavy at times, but the message is clear. I was left breathless after reading Left (Still Stading, #1). I can’t say the ending is actually a cliffhanger, but it definitely left me wanting more. I cannot wait for the second installment.

About the Author

T. R. Graves, the author of The Warrior Series and The Secrets Series and The Underwater Series, is a 2012 NaNoWriMo Winner.
She lives along the Texas coast with her husband. Together, they raise T. R.’s beta reading daughter and their football-loving son. Besides being blessed with a supportive family, she counts her career as a registered nurse in not-for-profit hospitals high on her list of fulfilling accomplishments.

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Oct 07 2013

Play With Me (Grover Beach Team #1) Blog Tour

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 3 Comments

Publication date: December 9th 2012

Synopsis:

A short, sweet novella.

Ryan Hunter’s parties are legend. And tonight she’s going to be there.

Liza Matthews anticipates the return of her best friend and only love since kindergarten from soccer camp. But when Tony finally shows up, his mind is more focused on another girl. And worse, she’s a soccer player. Fighting for the attention Liza craves, she’s just a hairbreadth away from making a very stupid decision. But when extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures, she’s prepared to play ball to get her man.

The tryouts are hell, the first match ends bloody, and the morning after the selection party she wakes up in the worst place possible—in the arms of the captain of the soccer team. The hottest guy in school. Ryan Hunter.

My Review

Play with Me is a very sweet, very innocent young adult novella about sixteen year old Liza Matthews who is infatuated with her best friend, Tony. The problem is Tony’s got his eyes set on another girl. Although Tony’s feelings don’t mirror Liza’s she’s determined to get his attention. She goes as far as joinging the soccer team just to prove a point. What she doesn’t know is the hottest guy in school Ryan Hunter has his eyes set on her. Oblivious to his feelings she continues vying for Tony’s heart but Ryan becomes a distraction, leaving her unsure of her own feelings. This is a sweet novella. It’s a very quick read that I would recommend to the younger readers or those interested in an innocent young adult romance.

Purchase (FREE on Kindle for all of October):

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About the Author

The quick-and-dirty:
I’m a cool girl with a passion for writing.
The genres you’ll find me hanging out at are contemporary and paranormal YA, but I’m also snooping into some adult paranormal right now. All of them romances…of course.
The nitty-gritty:
I’m an Austrian lass—totally uncomplicated and up to anything fun.
I grew up in Vienna, not by free will but because my parents decided to move there when I was only 4 years old. I. Hated. The. City. Everything about it. So right after graduation I moved back to Upper Austria, where I settled down with a nice husband and an awesome laptop.

I’ve been a storyteller all my life. Already in kindergarten, I came up with the most exotic fantasies and tales. My teacher would call me a liar. I call it the cornerstone of my writing career.
People always told me you can’t make a living with being an author. So when my first novella PLAY WITH ME came out and shot straight to the stars within the first week, I was totally dumbstruck. Took me a while to realize what was happening, LOL.
And the personal stuff:
At the (awesome) age of seventeen, I met the love of my life. But he was a playboy, and I was so not going to be his next trophy. It took him another four years of fighting for me until I finally decided to give that “couple-thing” with him a shot. I’m now married to this man. 😉We have an eleven-year-old son, and together we travel a lot…although I sometimes wish the trips were shorter because I can’t wait to get back to my laptop and my many stories. Unless we’re in Disneyland. No stress to go home then…If you still want to know more about me, my FAQ page is the right address for you. 😉

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Grand Prize Giveaway:

Prize (open internationally)
-A boxed set of PLAY WITH ME and RYAN HUNTER. One book, both stories inside.

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Oct 06 2013

Façade (Games, # 2) Blog Tour

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Synopsis

No one knows who twenty-one year-old Adrian Westfall is behind his façade. After what he’s done, he deserves to live alone with his pain, even if he’d do anything to forget. Anything for a moment of quiet without his past haunting him.

Eighteen year-old Delaney Cross wants nothing more than to absolve her family from her father’s sins. To keep her suicidal mom off that ledge, and help her brother Maddox get the light back in his eyes. She thinks their road to freedom is through Adrian. Adrian and Delaney are bound together by tragedy… Only Adrian doesn’t know it. As their lives intertwine, they find a solace in each other they never knew existed. Laney knows she needs to tell him-to come out from behind her smoke screen, but to say the words could mean losing him.Two people. Two disguises. True love. Will it be enough to save them when all secrets are bared?

My Review

My first experience reading Nyrae Dawn’s work was when I read the book Charade. It is book one of the Games series and I was hooked. Façade is the second book in the Games series and I am still reeling from the emotional roller coaster ride. Of course Colt and Cheyenne make appearances in Façade, but the book is about Colt’s best friend Adrian and Delaney, the new girl who’s come to town looking for forgiveness only to find she’s falling hard and fast for Adrian, the only one who can unknowingly absolve her. These two tortured souls find solace in one another, but as with any great love story the road is never easy. The secret Delaney harbors is one that could drive a wedge between the two not only breaking her heart, but ultimately shattering Adrian’s world. This book is emotional, raw, sexy and utterly captivating. I found myself crying and not just a tear or two, but those big ugly tears that make you an emotional train wreck. I’ve found this to be the case with both books in this series. I was deeply touched by this story and although I had my suspicions about the direction the book would take. I never imagined how affected I’d be if what I suspected were actually true. I can’t stress enough how much I loved getting to know Adrian and Delaney. Their stories were both beautiful and heartbreaking. Something about Adrian is so deep and all you hope is that he finds a way to heal. Delaney has the biggest heart and you seriously hope these two can weather this storm. This is an excellent follow up to Charade. It was great to see Colt and Cheyenne still going strong and meeting Delaney and Maddox (her brother…who I hope to get better acquainted with in the future). I can’t wait to read Masquerade…yay Maddox’s story!!!

Excellent read…I definitely recommend this to my New Adult/Romance fans! If you haven’t read Charade I also highly recommend that book!!!

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Excerpt

When I see my sister, Angel, walk over to Ash’s grave I don’t get out of the car. When some guy walks up and grabs her hand, I don’t know who he is and yet, I don’t bother finding out. They hug and I don’t walk over and do the same thing to her. It’s not our thing to stand around having some group, mourning session over the two year-old boy who died too soon.
Nope. This is real life. Not like all the stupid fucking books I read or the movies people watch or the reality shows that couldn’t be farther away from reality.

            Without moving an inch, I watch her. Watch as she sets flowers on Ashton’s grave. As the guy pulls her into a hug. As they kneel on the ground, probably talking to him in a way I’ll never have the balls to do.

            The guy says something to her and then gets up and walks away. I duck further down in my seat, but no one is paying attention to me. He heads back to a little car and waits.

            Angel’s hands go to her face and I know she’s crying in them. Know she’s mourning the loss of Ash, the boy she loved so much. The boy she took care of better than any mom could. I know she sent the guy away because she’s like me and needs to handle shit on her own. Only unlike me, she’ll never run.

            She cries out there for probably thirty minutes. The whole time my chest is tight. Aching. It’s hard to breathe and I want to turn away, but I don’t. I deserve to feel this way and deserve to see this.

            A fist squeezes tighter and tighter around my heart. My face is wet, but I don’t bother to wipe away the tears, either. Real men don’t fucking cry. That’s what dad always said before he hit me in a series of body shots, until I couldn’t stop myself from doing just what he said I shouldn’t do.

            Then he’d beat me harder for being weak.

            Angel’s shoulders are shaking. I can tell from this far away.

            I’m not an idiot. Never have been. I know it wouldn’t make me weak to walk over there and hug her. To hold her and tell her it’ll be okay, but I still won’t do it. What right do I have to try and console her, when I’m the one who destroyed everything?

            When I’m the one who let Ash die?

            So I sit here and watch her, just so I’ll never forget the pain I caused.”

Nyrae Dawn_Photo Credit - Cherished Memories Photography[1]

About the Author:

Writing has always been Nyrae Dawn’s passion. Nyrae gravitates toward character-driven stories. She loves going on emotional journeys with characters whether it be reading or writing. And yes, she’s a total romantic at heart and proud.

Nyrae resides in sunny Southern California with her husband (who still makes her swoon) and her two awesome kids.When she’s not with her family, you can be pretty sure you’ll find her with a book in her hand or her laptop and an open document in front of her. Nyrae also writes adult romance under the name Kelley Vitollo.

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Oct 05 2013

Surrender to Fate Blog Tour

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Synopsis

Some say fate holds the cards. But what if love deals the hand? No love goes untested. Ever. Indeed, true love is left to prove itself. And that is exactly where fate steps in to play the game.

For William and Sarah, that game begins with growing up, in the unspoiled mountains of Colorado. In a time and space as clear as the Rocky Mountain skies above, these young souls together learn about life, what matters most, what endures, what doesn’t, and about love. Innocent young love moves ever so surely toward lives they both can picture, lives spent loving each other in a place they know so well and cherish.

Will and Sarah are ecstatically swept away in the swells of new love. And it is in their rarefied bliss that they make the fragile promise of first love, a promise that fate will soon rock and pound into doubt, guilt, and epiphany.

Unexpected and unprepared, these young lovers are suddenly torn apart, first by distance, and then by the far greater pressures of temptation that test the very fidelity of their heart-held promise. No longer able to console each other, hold each other, touch each other, they face the inevitable decision: move on to other loves, or cling to the faith that they will someday be together, again.
Will and Sarah stare down an unknown path, sensing destiny will not wait long before it comes to take them. Wracked with doubt, they wonder if their love was real. Caged by guilt, they both feel tempted by others intent on stealing their hearts.

Fate plays hardest when love is tested. And Will and Sarah are no exception, letting go of their happy past to embrace hope for an uncharted future. Love plays hardest when fate tests. And so it is, even through their trials of the heart, Will and Sarah never really stop loving each other. Theirs is a love so real and pure that each just wants the other to find happiness, even if it’s with another.

But fate does not surrender so easily. Dealing blow upon blow, both Will and Sarah are each struck by jolting events that take them to the very edge of life, itself.

Sarah and Will hold tightly to their past, but steadfast promises begin to wane. Life continues, filled with romance, drama, and two souls yearning to understand the challenges brought with coming of age, and learning that fate is ultimately in control. What happens to love when life is on the line? Can they both relinquish control when love is on the line? Will fate even allow them to find out?

My Review:

Surrender to Fate drew me in from the beginning. I kept getting caught up with things in my life while reading this, but every time I tried to put it aside, I would find an excuse to finish another chapter and then another lol. The book isn’t my typical read, but I adored it. I am not usually one for books that take place in this particular time period, but this book drew me in and I could not put it down. The romance between Will and Sarah is sweet and beautiful, but you know something will inevitably draw them apart. Even though I knew it was coming I was incredibly sad when that moment took place, but when Sarah’s new love interest enters the picture I can’t help but like him. I completely hate Will’s love interest and want her to fall off of a cliff. She is conniving and manipulative from the very beginning.

I really was surprised at how much I loved this book…like I said it is not my preferred time period, but this book is incredibly special. The author paints a vivid picture and somehow makes the readers emotions mirror that of the characters. I shared their confusion, their pain, their anger, their joy, their sorrows but most of all their love. I felt every emotion, that is something that is often difficult for an author to accomplish with me as the reader. Jacelyn Rye does a phenomenal job engaging the reader.

Will finding a way back to one another prove impossible? Sarah’s love interest has grown on me…I don’t actually want him to fall off of a cliff lol. I felt like the question I asked myself throughout this book was…is it possible to love two people simultaneously? A big part of me hopes Will and Sarah do keep their promise, that “Me Ware Wo” means more than just words, but so much happens throughout the course of this book that all you can do it question if they’ll actually find a way.

This book made me question so many things, but it is a true example of a coming of age story. Watching these two grow and the decisions they make when faced with a separation like this must be difficult for two young people in love, but is a promise of love enough to keep two people together? Does distance make it easier to forget someone and move on or are you forever etched in their heart. The book took many surprising turns, but I can’t say it is wholly unexpected. I definitely got emotional a few times throughout the book and you will likely share in that reaction. I’m still not sure how I feel about how everything has played out so far, but I think I definitely need book two…and soon…to satiate my curiosity.

I don’t want to give away too much, but expect a cliffhanger…you’ll definitely want to grab the next book in the series to see what happens next! I’d rate this book a solid 4-4.5 stars!

Buy Surrender to Fate:

About the Author

Jacelyn spent her childhood growing up in the mountains of Colorado. After graduating from college, she moved to Southern California, where she still resides with her husband and two young sons.

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Oct 03 2013

Saving Amy Blog Tour

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Synopsis

Eighteen year old Amy’s surname may be Hope, but her life contains anything but. She drinks, she sleeps around, she cuts… anything to help her escape the agonizing existence growing up between her mother’s drunken wails and her father’s fists. But nothing works. There is no escape. And Amy wants out…

Enter Richard Lewis – the doctor responsible for saving Amy’s life after her drink and drug-fuelled suicide attempt. Thanks to his own hidden demons, Richard is drawn to Amy and her situation, and despite the incessant warnings from both his own mind and his jealous ex-lover Joanna, he feels compelled to help her.

But how will Amy feel when she discovers Richard’s attachment to her is born out of his own guilt? He was her last resort – her last chance at being saved. Can anybody save Amy, or has she finally reached the end of a very long, torturous road?

(Not recommended for younger readers due to language, scenes of self-harm and sexual content)

My Review

I’ll save you a repeat synopsis and say Saving Amy was a pretty intense read for me. It was heartbreaking and beautiful. This book has a lot of incredibly dark moments that made me fear for Amy’s life and well being. A lot of the choices she made early on shocked me, but they also let me know I was in for one hell of a ride.

Amelia Hope is all out of hope until the day she wakes up in Richard Lewis’ bed. Her world irrevocably changes from that day forward. Amy splits leaving his home and disappearing back to her hell of a world thinking she’ll never see him again. She continues on a destructive path that forces their worlds to collide.

Saving Amy isn’t just about Amy finding redemption, but Richard finding his own. Their need to save one another is where the beauty lies in this book. As hard as some moments are for each of them, they continue to find ways to help one another by offering constant support when guilt, fear or the pain of the past become too much to bear. The road isn’t easy for these two but well worth the read. Prepare yourselves for a very emotional ride. The book took a few surprising twists and turns but the end result was a beautifully put together masterpiece.

Buy the Book:

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About the Author

Nicola lives in Rochdale, England with her husband and four children (and dog!). She is the author of two stand alone novels, Inevitable and Saving Amy, and is currently having fun working on her first series with book one, Take My Hand, to be released in October. When not reading or writing Nicola can usually be found carrying out her daily slave duties – cleaning, feeding the mob, cleaning a bit more etc… or watching The Twilight Saga for the fifty-billionth time 🙂

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Oct 02 2013

Mystery Book Revealed…My Book Review of Genna Rulon’s Only For You (For You Series #1)

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

“In its purest form love is self-sacrificing, eternal, selfless, enduring, truthful, forgiving and indulgent. It also feels an awful lot like a kick to the stomach when you try to fight it!”

All Everleigh Carsen wanted to do was complete her final semester at Hensley University and begin the life she carefully planned.

When a wave of violent crime seizes campus, Everleigh is persuaded to attend a school sponsored self-defense seminar by her best friend, where she meets volunteer instructor, Hunter Charles. After Everleigh’s biting sarcasm induces Hunter to eject her from class, a tempestuous relationship is born.

Everleigh is determined to forget the striking man, but fate—that fickle shrew—continuously intervenes. Unable to escape him, she declares Hunter an enemy combatant. The only complication…Hunter is resolutely pursuing vindication…by any means necessary. Verbal warfare ensues, and despite Everleigh’s ingenious efforts, in Hunter, she has finally found her equal.

Only For You is a compelling tale of friendship, desire, and redemption—brimming with intelligent characters, witty dialogue, unexpected twists, profound sorrow, unfettered hope, and love’s unassailable perseverance.

My Review

For those of you that follow me on Facebook, I made a comment on Monday night about a book that I read that is amazing. If you didn’t catch the comment it was…

“Holy shit you guys I just read an amazing book and the review will be up this week!!!! Omg! I’m, I’m, I’m speechless…..”

I later followed up my comment with this photo:

Although for me, I was experiencing emotional trauma at the hands of my kindle…

I know, it was wrong of me not to share the details (title/author), but I felt I needed a moment to absorb the weight of the book and express myself in a way that did justice to how amazing this book is.

I guess I should actually mention the book is Genna Rulon’s debut novel Only For You and it is a fantastic debut!

There is always one book that absolutely blows your mind when you finish, you sit back for a moment to reflect but all you can think is…”wow.” After reading Genna Rulon’s Only For You I must say it left me speechless. I was completely taken by surprise. The book was so unlike anything I could have imagined. I’m not saying it was the storyline that got to me, rather it was the authors language, her use of wit, sarcasm and even the general sense of intelligence through her writing. I actually discussed with her briefly via email how a lot of new adult books were beginning to disinterest me as too many had similar plots and even dialogue. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still a die hard fan of new adult books but I am at a point where I read so many books a week that when I read an ARC or even a book I purchase of my own accord it needs to completely blow me away for me to seriously consider it great. I found a gem amongst stones in Only For You. This book is unique in plot, dialogue, and it completely shocked the hell out of me. I am usually very good at figuring out how a book will end or what direction it will go in about midway through reading I usually figure it all out…sometimes earlier. This book took so many turns it was difficult to know where it would end and my jaw dropped close to the end at some revelations that were made. I was suspicious of ever person in this book at one point or another. I won’t be giving away any spoilers, but it ended beautifully and made me scream that I’ll have to wait until December for the next installment.

This book is a complex blend of romance, mystery, friendship and anguish. There are moments that will have you cackling while other moments will leave you in tears, though I may have actually laughed so hard it brought me to tears. The blooming friendship/romance, witty dialogue, inner monologues and suspicions will have you holding your breath and leave your heart racing. I experienced all of these emotions while reading Only For You. You may have a similar experience, you may experience only one or two of the above-mentioned emotions but you certainly will have a rather emotional experience after reading this book.

Only For You is it’s classified as a new adult book but I firmly believe it could fall outside of the romance genre to bordering mystery, suspense and even sociology/abuse. The book was REAL. I mean it had some really raw, really fucked up moments that made you want to cry out for the people afflicted. I certainly cried but I also laughed so much while reading this book. The witty banter between characters is unmatched to any book I’ve ever read and I have read some hilarious books, but this one took the cake winning my nomination for wittiest, most sarcastic dialogue….

Only For You provided a moment of sheer bliss for me…ok maybe more than a moment. I adored this book. I seriously devoured it and I want seconds!!! It is an experience I am still reeling from. I loved the main characters and can’t wait for the follow-up. There are so many stories I want to hear and I am so smitten over Hunter and Griffin! I’ve officially slutted myself out to them mentally! Yeah that’s right they don’t call me Book Whore for no reason! Genna…I want more…no, I need more!!!!

With that said, Only For You is probably one of the best new adult books I’ve read to date. I give it 5 stars, 2 thumbs up, 10 fingers and toes lol. I highly recommend this to anyone who wants a suspenseful romance with twists, turns and some heartache along the way while leaving you with an ending that will make your jaw drop, your heart smile and your stomach flutter. I actually think I am going to read it again having discovered a few things…I may notice even more the second time around!

*This book was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

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Quotes from Only For You:

“When someone tells you something about themselves don’t want to hear—believe them.”

“You’re going to listen to me, and for once you’re going to hear what I say and not read between lines that aren’t there.”

“I was a fool, alone, preparing to do what every fool did at such times—I was going to a bar to drink myself smart.”

“He had a skull and crossbones label on him, but I drank his poison nevertheless and loved it; now I needed an antidote.”

“If you don’t remember your value, no one else will. Don’t ever settle, Ev. You’re far too precious a treasure to squander.”

“You’ll continue to be a bitch no matter what, but I’m glad you aren’t a callous, self-absorbed one.”

“I stepped off the merry-go-round for a reason. It made me dizzy and I kept ending up in the same spot. It may have been fun for a short ride, but was never headed anywhere.”

“Jose had loosened my tongue; curse him, the ninety proof bastard.”

“We played hot potato with my heart—me throwing it to him, him tossing it back to me. Every time the music stopped, I was always the one holding the bruised organ, out of the game.”

About the Author:

After 15 years in the corporate world, Genna, an avid reader, fantasized about penning her own stories. Encouraged by the success of her favorite authors, many of whom are self-published, she committed to pursuing her aspirations.

Genna was raised in Long Island, New York, where she still resides, surrounded by the most extraordinary family and friends. Married to a wonderful man, who patiently tolerates her ramblings about whichever book she is currently working on (he even feigns interest relatively convincingly). Genna is blessed with two little boys who do their best to thwart mommy’s writing time with their hilarious antics and charming extrapolations.

All of Genna’s novels are brought to you courtesy of coffee and Disney Junior.

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The second book in the series, Pieces For You (For You Series #2), is scheduled to be released in December 2013.

Sep 24 2013

In Harmony Blog Tour

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 7 Comments

From New York Times bestselling author Helena Newbury, the second in the Fenbrook Academy series.
A self-contained romance with no cliffhanger ending!

Everyone expects her to succeed…
Karen plays the cello like an angel, and it’s the only thing that makes her truly feel alive. But her father’s dream—for her to join a prestigious orchestra—leaves no time in her life for anything but music…not even love. Trapped on her path, she doesn’t know how to rebel.

Everyone expects him to fail…
Connor plays rock guitar like the devil himself, and his ability has got him all the way from a dead-end life in Belfast to a scholarship at Fenbrook Academy. But beneath his arrogance and charm, he doesn’t believe he has what it takes. He’s spent his time in New York drinking and partying, and the only future he sees is a return to Ireland as soon as he flunks out.

But what no one expects…
When Karen’s duet partner is injured, the bad boy guitarist and the shy, sheltered cellist are forced to team up. Neither likes the idea, but what begins as anger and distrust slowly spirals into love…and lust. If they can face up to their feelings, they might just have a chance together. If Connor will allow Karen to stop his fall, maybe he can show her a life she never thought possible…

This New Adult Romance is recommended for readers 17+ due to adult themes and sexual scenes.

Review

Bad boy rocker meets shy/geeky cellist! I loved it! Who doesn’t love a good bad boy romance? First of all, I really enjoyed Dance for Me and In Harmony continues following the Fenbrook family, moving on to Karen’s story (Natasha’s pal) and bad boy IRISH rocker Connor! ::Excuse me while I swoon:::

If you haven’t read Dance for Me…don’t fret, it isn’t necessary to follow this story as they are each stand alone BUT I strongly recommend reading both as you’ll have a greater understanding of the relationships.

Karen’s desire to be a concert cellist has driven her to spend all of her waking moments practicing. She’s dedicated and determined but to what extent is she living the neatly carved path her father has made for her. She’s wanted this for as long as she can remember. Now that she is in her senior year she’s that much closer, but knowing her final performance of the year will possibly solidify a career with the NY Philharmonic she’s obsessed with perfection. With Karen’s duet partner injured, her chances with the Philharmonic seem less likely but her graduation depends on this performance, with graduation at risk the only possible solution comes in the form of an Irish bad boy rocker Connor Locke. Can she convince him that with his help the deal will be mutually beneficial? Let’s just say things begin to get complicated. Karen’s life is neatly carved out for her but she puts pressure on herself determined to deliver nothing but a perfect performance. She starts to envy Connor’s laid back, care free spirit and while she’s never been interested in dating or having a boyfriend Connor is filling her world with color.

I have to be honest (as if I could be anything but haha). I actually liked this book more than I did Dance for Me. I was drawn in to this relationship in a greater way than I had been with Dance for Me. Both books are well written, sexy and sweet but this one is more believable to me. The romance progressed in an interesting manner. Things shifted from confusion to lust to love. I felt the relationship in Dance for Me developed rather quickly BUT I still love Darrell and Natasha! Now Connor….something about an Irish rocker appeals to me! The accent, the edginess, the mystery. This book has it all and I recommend this to all New Adult/Romance fans. I can’t wait for more from this author.

Excerpt:

“Let’s dance.” Suddenly, his other arm was around my waist.
“What? No, wait –”

He pulled me close and I yelped. Suddenly my body was pressed against his, the heat of his body shocking through my thin dress. I could feel the hard wall of his abs against my stomach and I tried to speak, but I couldn’t seem to get any air. I was dimly aware that the band were playing a slow number, and a few couples had drifted back onto the floor around us, but we still seemed to be very much the center of attention.

“I can’t dance,” I squeaked.
“You’re doing fine.” We were barely moving, just a few steps in each direction as we turned slowly around. But even that was hazardous in my ridiculous heels, and I staggered and had to hang onto his arm to stay upright. It felt as solid as iron, and I was reminded of how he’d caught me on the steps. He was even stronger than he looked.
Unfortunately, not even he could make me a better dancer. I recovered, but kept tripping over my own feet, my face going red as I felt everyone looking. “Connor–“

And then he pulled me even closer to him and lifted me, my shoes just leaving the floor. He swept me round without appparent effort, and without my stumbling it actually looked good. “Better?” he asked.
I was panting. The whole length of my body seemed to be molded to his. His broad chest was pressed against my breasts, and the touch of him there was making my nipples rise and harden despite me willing them not to. His arm around my waist meant that my groin was mashed to his, and I was uncomfortably aware of the hardness I could feel along the inside of his thigh, and the effect it was having on my own body–a dark, twisting heat inside me that I could already feel turning to moisture. This is Connor, for God’s sake! What’s the matter with me?

I looked up at him, helpless. I expected him to be smirking, or outright chuckling at me. I thought he’d make some crude comment, but what I saw in his eyes took my breath away.

He looked just as helpless as me.”

About the Author

Helena Newbury is a New Adult Romance author with a love of bakingly hot summer days, strawberry gelato, good coffee and interesting people. Unlike the characters in her books, Helena cannot dance, act or play anything (though she is substantially more flexible since she started writing Dance For Me and tried doing dancer’s stretches, so she’s hoping that something will rub off on her from each book).
Helena writes in a very noisy, very busy coffee shop which means she sometimes end up mainlining caffeine to keep her seat. You’ll know when this happens because she’ll still be on Twitter that night at 4am.
She loves meeting and talking with other authors, traveling to new places and discovering new books. You can find her on:

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Sep 21 2013

I Rize by S.T. Anthony Book Review

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

First of all I need to acknowledge how amazing this book cover is. I ordered this book on Amazon a while back and the cover is what actually enticed me. I was curious to know what the book was about so I read the synopsis and downloaded the book. I’m glad I did because I really enjoyed this unique book. It is a very short read but it covers a very real problem today — Bullying. What I liked the most was that the author gave multiple perspectives. She went from bullied, to best friend, to parent, to love interest, to bully and back. It covered a wide range of issues that any person can relate to whether they’re fifteen or fifty. I truly loved that about this book. I spent a lot of time psycho analyzing characters because…well, that’s just something I do, but this book was written in a way where you could play devil’s advocate by understanding their own issues yet you could easily dislike them or feel absolutely no sympathy for them even through their own struggles. I’d rate this read at a 3.5-3.8. I enjoyed the style of writing as it is poetic but I would have loved a full length novel. I could actually see this YA book used in schools as a required reading. It would be a good pick.

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Sep 20 2013

Picturing Perfect Book Review

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: No Comments

Synopsis

Life may not turn out like we planned, but sometimes that’s what makes it perfect…

Hadley Foster has always been a planner. But, since the age of nineteen, things haven’t exactly gone according to plan… not at all. And the changes continue to mount when a trip to Europe with her best friend starts a domino effect in all aspects of her life. Suddenly, the future she had envisioned for herself seems unlikely to happen. It’s time to make a new plan… or accept the dominoes as they fall.

Jason Kelly has a great life. He’s a successful self-published writer who’s living his dreams. But, something is missing. Hadley Foster. Letting her slip through his fingers is one of his biggest regrets. Over time, he had to accept the idea of being without his first love as he watched her fall in love with someone else.

When circumstances bring Jason and Hadley back into one another’s lives, they’re forced to deal with their past, their present and the possibility of a future together.

**Note from the author: You do not need to read either Bouquet Toss or Champagne Toast to follow this story. It is a stand-alone book that connects to Champagne Toast. **

My Review

I loved this book. From start to finish Picturing Perfect is absolute perfection. This is a story that makes you reflect on your own life, your own decisions and all the choices that led you down the path you’ve taken. It makes you wonder if true love really does exist and if that love is strong enough to withstand whatever life throws your way. Is it ever too late? The author covered some very real subject matter but did so in a way that gave you hope. Simply put, this is an exceptional book. It is well written with a great storyline and truly lovable characters. The ending leaves you completely satiated.

This book introduces you to twenty-two year old Hadley Foster with a bang…leaving you with a looming suspicion that everything in her world is about to change, the only question is will it be for the best?

We are introduced to two men in her life – Tucker, her boyfriend of six years and Jason Kelly…the big brother of Hadley’s best friend Auden. Jason and Hadley have a complicated relationship. They’ve longed for one another but have never acted on their obvious attraction. The tension is almost palpable when these two are in a room together. Although Hadley is now in a relationship a run in with Jason stirs a lot of old feelings and it appears Jason’s feelings mirror her own. As things in Hadley’s life become rather…errr…complicated she must make some tough decisions as she realizes her mapped out plan has taken a bit of a detour. I loved every minute of this journey with Haddie. Although she endured some pretty rough times she came through it with ease and grace. This book is a great example of how life can take you on an unexpected journey but sometimes the outcome is far greater than even your wildest dreams. A must read for all romance and new adult fans.

*This book is an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

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Sep 18 2013

Stranger’s Blog Tour, Review & Giveaway

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 2 Comments

Synopsis

Bereaved bride Abby Clark is tortured by visions of the fatal crash that took her fiancée on their wedding day. She succumbs to a dark existence where loneliness, sadness and nightmares dwell; until handsome, brooding Bryce Holden walks through the door of her favorite coffee shop, wearing the same cloak of despair and grief. Abby discovers in Bryce someone who understands love and loss, and soon their close friendship grows into a deep love. But ghosts make strange bedfellows, and Abby is forced to battle the tormenting images that continue to haunt her, and confront the ethereal presence of a beloved wife to protect her future with Bryce.

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My Review

I always found it strange that my favorite book is a classic romance novel I read when I was barely a teen yet for some strange reason I never was big on the romance genre. Ten years ago, you couldn’t pay me to read a romance novel. I never actually considered myself a big fan, but as I got a little older I developed a love and appreciation for romance. This book made me remember why I fell in love with a good romance. For me, reading is an escape from reality. I get to delve into a different world for a few hours and sometimes it isn’t such a bad thing. When things are going wrong in life sometimes a little happily ever after is all you need.

Where do I begin? Strangers is a book that makes you fall in love with the entire process of falling in love. It has dark moments, humorous moments and incredibly heartbreaking moments but it makes you appreciate the sort of love that draws you from the depths of darkness into the light. It is in fact about just that – two strangers.

Abby Clark and Bryce Holder meet in a café on Valentine’s Day, which is also the anniversary of Trevor’s death (Abby’s fiancé). Abby immediately notices Bryce and for some odd reason she can’t stop staring at him. He happens to notice but she turns away. He heads to her table offering her a cappuccino some company if she doesn’t mind. Unbeknownst to them, they share more in common that either of them could ever have imagined. They have both suffered tragic losses and their time in the café leads to a budding friendship that ultimately gives way to the possibility of a much greater love story. Through their shared pain they engage in a friendship that slowly blossoms into what they refer to as “best friends” or “just friends” whenever asked the nature of their relationship. What better relationship is there to be in than one with your best friend?

These two drove me mad waiting for the inevitable romance to commence. The buildup in this book is what made me love it. This is a book where a romance is built and the reader is with them through each step of that courtship. The friendship, the trust and ultimately the love they share are what draw you in. Most times when we see a relationship formed in a book, it happens quickly and the reader doesn’t get to experience each step. Strangers takes you through a journey of loss, friendship and back to love again. It is an absolutely beautiful book that may shock you, bring you to tears and make you smile all in the same breath.

I really loved A.L. Parks writing and the direction she took with this book. It wasn’t a story about a first love but it was about a long and lasting love after a tragic and painful loss. The thought of moving on is unbearable to both Abby and Bryce. They are living but their lives are hollow. Their hearts were ripped out the day they lost the love of their life, but somehow they are each other’s redeemer. This book is beautiful and I loved every second I spent reading it. I encourage anyone who is a fan of romance, romantic suspense, contemporary romance or new adult to check this book out. I don’t want to give away too much but you won’t be disappointed. This book is a fantastic debut, I cannot wait for more by this author.

*This book was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*

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About A.L. Parks

I am just starting in this crazy world of writing and publishing. Lately, however, there are just too many characters in my head begging me to tell their stories…so here I am. Writing, publishing, sharing and, hopefully, entertaining. I love a great love story, but really want to tell a story with an edge; characters who are imperfect, trying to find the perfect love.

Strangers is my debut novel, and will be released on September 6, 2013. I will have another novel, The Return, with an anticipated release date of November 1, 2013. I have been focusing mainly on short stories, but have felt a need to get to know the characters more in-depth, and in turn, tell more of their stories. I have some fairly interesting people living in my head!

I have my own blog (www.parkingitrighthere.blogspot.com), where I review books, and discuss my new projects. I also contribute to www.SheReadsNewAdult.com, dedicated to the emerging new adult romance genre. We have great fun over there…be sure to check us out!

I currently live outside Washington D.C. with my family. We spend many hours exploring the area and the deep history of this beautiful land, while experiencing as much of life’s wonders as possible. I have traveled abroad and lived in almost every corner of the U.S., and hope my writing reflects various cultures, people, and places.

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Sep 17 2013

Unspoken Blog Tour

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 5 Comments

Synopsis

Whore. Slut. Typhoid Mary.

I’ve been called all these at Central College. One drunken night, one act of irresponsible behavior, and my reputation was ruined. Guys labeled me as easy and girls shied away. To cope, I stayed away from Central social life and away from Central men, so why is it that my new biology lab partner is so irresistible to me?

He’s everything I shouldn’t want. A former Marine involved in illegal fighting with a quick trigger temper and an easy smile for all the women. His fists aren’t the danger to me, though, it’s his charm. He’s sliding his way into my heart and I’m afraid that he’s going to be the one to break me.

Impulsive. Unthinking. Hot tempered.

I allow instinct to rule my behavior. If it feels good, do it, has been my motto because if I spend too much time thinking, I’ll begin to remember exactly where I came from. At Central College, I’ve got fighting and I’ve got women and I thought I was satisfied until I met her.

She’s everything I didn’t realize I wanted and the more time I spend with her, the more I want her. But she’s been hurt too much in the past and I don’t want to be the one to break her. I know I should walk away, but I just can’t.

My Review

I’m always nervous when it comes to reading the second (or third, fourth, etc..) book in a series — even the standalones. After I fall in love with a book I can’t wait for more but there is always this hesitation before I begin that next book. My first thought is usually, will it be as good as the first book? This is always tricky for me but when it comes to the Woodlands series by Jen Frederick she absolutely outdid herself with Unspoken. This is a follow-up to Undeclared following Bo and AM. I was blown away. This book is as enjoyable as Undeclared and it gave us a different perspective/different love story.

We first meet Bo in Undeclared. He is Noah’s best friend and “partner in crime.” They do everything together right down to joining the Marines. Bo heads to Central with Noah to finish up college and he also participates in MMA Fighting. While at Central Bo is a magnet for the ladies but one girl begins to stick out…AM. They are paired up in Biology as partners and everything seems to change for both of them. While AM is set on avoiding everything Central minus her classes she has heard about Bo’s own reputation. She wants nothing to do with anyone or anything at Central after her unfortunate encounter ended in her being called every name in the book by her peers. AM is someone who makes Bo question himself. He’s never wanted to be serious with anyone and AM makes him feel all sorts of emotions. She helps him deal with his past and while there are some pretty hilarious moments when it comes to Bo and his internal monologues. There are some really heavy topics. There are also some pretty steamy moments 😉

This book delves into a slightly different aspect of college life…rumors, reputations and the gossip surrounding intimate encounters. It’s crazy how much bullying occurs in a college/new adult book. Just goes to show you how much gossip and rumors surround us. The problem with rumors are they are usually based on a very small percentage of the truth – sort of like the game of telephone, by the time the message is spread to the last person it’s been so ridiculously mangled that no one knows the real truth. Gossip and rumors spread like wildfire but can rarely be taken back as easily. AM knows bullying and mistreatment from her peers. It’s heartbreaking but she is strong and overcomes what is thrown her way. She makes you feel empowered by the end of the book.

Bo and AM are amazing together. They make each other better. They support one another and ground each other in a way that makes you envious of their relationship. AM had one bad night, one mistake that now follows her all over Central. No matter what the truth is no one wants to hear it. She’s now the girl with the “reputation” but Bo knows her, he really sees her for who she is and not the rumors surrounding her. This book is as beautiful as Undeclared and I highly recommend the series to all. They are both stand-alone novels but I do recommend that you read them in order (although it isn’t necessary), for me it was nice to be acquainted with Bo from Book 1 and see his character develop. Again, it isn’t necessary but just my recommendation. I cannot wait for Book 3!!!

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Undeclared (Woodlands, #1) – Book One

For four years, Grace Sullivan wrote to a Marine she never met, and fell in love. But when his deployment ended, so did the letters. Ever since that day, Grace has been coasting, academically and emotionally. The one thing she’s decided? No way is Noah Jackson – or any man – ever going to break her heart again.

Noah has always known exactly what he wants out of life. Success. Stability. Control. That’s why he joined the Marines and that’s why he’s fighting his way – literally – through college. Now that he’s got the rest of his life on track, he has one last conquest: Grace Sullivan. But since he was the one who stopped writing, he knows that winning her back will be his biggest battle yet.

My Review

Undeclared is a beautiful story of two people who grow to love one another over the course of four years without ever meeting or speaking. Their relationship is solely formed through the written word…letters. But six years after their first letter Grace is heartbroken and Noah is back fighting to win her over and explain his two year absence.

Grace begins writing Noah, a marine while in High School. He is deployed in Afghanistan and they quickly form a bond. Both have lost a parent and their shared experience makes them feel closer. They discuss pretty much anything from the weather to ambitions. Grace sends care packages frequently and the guys in the unit quickly grow to love her but the letters are what keeps Noah going and what helps him pass the time. Although Grace believes Noah only sees her as a little sister her letters get him through some pretty tough times and all he can do is think about her.

The problem is Noah doesn’t know how to reciprocate Graces sentiments, instead he pushes her away and friend zones her. Grace is crushed and after four years of correspondence Noah practically disappears. For two years she hears nothing, no contact, no reason, just silence.

Grace, now in college is still dealing with the heartache. One day as she sits in the school library she swears she sees Noah but her cousin Lana quickly tells her to snap out of it and get real. She’s obsessing over someone she’s never met. She won’t go out and meet other guys because she is so set on Noah. But Noah is back and he’s been watching Grace biding his time hoping to figure out a way to explain his absence. He realized a long time ago he wanted Grace but his own fears kept him away. Now all he can think about is gaining her trust and showing her how much he wants her in his life but will Grace give him the opportunity?

I really loved this book. The dynamic between the two main characters is incredible. Their love is undeniable but they’d both built up walls at one point or another. Trusting one another came easier than I expected for these two and there was minimal drama which I liked. This book is all about the power of love. The pull between these two draws you in — it’s “magnetic” and the ending will leave you completely satisfied.

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(1) iPad mini for US/Canada or Apple Gift Card in the amount of an iPad Mini for International winner, and (5) Print copies of Unspoken with dog tags – International

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About the Author

Jen Frederick lives with her husband, child, and one rambunctious dog. She’s been reading stories all her life but never imagined writing one of her own. Jen loves to hear from readers so drop her a line at jensfrederick@gmail.com.

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Sep 14 2013

Catching Liam (Good Girls Don’t #1) Book Review

Author: Bibliowhore • Discussion: 1 Comment

Synopsis

Twenty-one year-old Jillian Nichols only has one rule when it comes to boys: catch and release. Boy-catching isn’t just a game for Jillian and her friends, it’s a lifestyle. After all, boys might be good for a dance or a drink and certainly a little under-cover action of the scandalous variety, but expect much else and you’re bound for heart ache.

So when her best friends and fellow boy catchers start dropping like flies junior year, Jillian is determined to keep boys in her bedroom and out of her heart. Until she meets Liam McAvoy, the kind of guy that sticks around to make waffles and who can’t—or perhaps won’t—take a hint.

Study abroad student Liam doesn’t want to be another notch on Jillian’s bedpost. Actually he has much more interesting ideas for Jillian and her bedposts, but his student visa’s set expiration date means he can’t promise her forever. That doesn’t mean he’s going to walk away from the challenge of discovering why Jillian is hell-bent at keeping people at a distance.

Before long, neither is sure who is catching who—or if they’re playing for keeps. Jillian knows one thing though: falling in love will not only break the only rule of boy-catching, it could also break her heart.

My Review

I absolutely devoured this book…in one sitting. I love…love…love Liam! Can someone find me a Liam, please? This book is endearingly beautiful. Where do I begin? Liam…I think I’ll start with him…yummmmmo hehe

Ok, ok I’ll actually start with Jill. Jill wakes up one morning after a crazy and wild night. She wakes to the scent of vanilla. As she puts the night together she remembers a guy named Liam who came home with her. While she expected him to be gone in the morning, Liam is in her kitchen stark naked making her waffles. Jill has a philosophy…catch and release. It’s worked well for her in the past except…it really hasn’t. She’s distanced herself from others, particularly men who could potentially start a relationship with her. Clearly Jill is dealing with some issues but we don’t exactly know what at this point. She stealthily gets him out of her apartment in hopes of never seeing him again…

The only problem is when Jill walks into class the morning after their romp in the sack and guess who she notices sitting next to her…Liam. As if that wasn’t bad enough she is then paired up with him for the semester by their professor. They have to effectively communicate with one another the entire semester, something Jill isn’t too thrilled about. She’s desperate to get out of this class but heard it’s an easy A something her transcript could use especially if she wants to continue attending school.

Liam wants to know more about Jill. He wants her around and he’ll do anything to get more than a one-night stand. Liam makes no secret of his intentions and even makes his feelings known to the entire class. Their professor uses their conversation as an example on how to effectively communicate, pointing out errors Liam is making and giving tips on how to communicate better. Jill is embarrassed and ready to drop the class just to avoid Liam, her classmates and her professor. Liam cuts her a deal, if she sticks around and helps him with their project, he will back off and keep things platonic.

She has her reservations but finally agrees to be his partner but as they begin to work together Liam begins to break down those walls… slowly but surely Jill becomes more receptive to his advances but Jill is hiding a secret, a big one that she is certain will change the way Liam sees her. She wants him around; she’s slowly coming to terms with that idea. The problem is, Liam is going back to Scotland. Oh yes, did I forget to mention our resident hottie is Scottish? Yeah…he is. Oh, Liam! ::fans self:: LOL

Not only is he going back to Scotland at the end of the year, but also Jill is hiding a secret, a big one that she knows will affect the way Liam sees her. She is convinced when he finds out their relationship will be over. She uses her defense mechanism to push him away because Jill knows what’s happening between them. It scares her. Jill knows one of two things will happen – either she will end up heartbroken or Liam will. She’s convinced either way this will end badly. But will it? Is Liam like all the rest of the guys she’s pushed away or will he stick by her side?

I really enjoyed this book. It tugged at my heartstrings. The characters were lovable and well developed. The relationship between Liam and Jill left me rooting for a HEA. I can’t give away the secret or how this ends but I desperately hope that there will be more to this story. It ended in a way where you are completely satisfied but left things open enough for another book…perhaps hehe.

*This book was an ARC provided to me for free in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and comments are my own.*